A curated community board for freelance illustrators and comic creators

Weekly Roundup – June 9, 2017

Happy June! Welcome again to another Weekly Roundup. In the Weekly Roundup, I provide links and summarized information about the crowdfunded projects, creator opportunities, and resources that have caught my eye over the week. I hope you enjoy!

WARNING! Some content below may feature NSFW content. Links will be marked NSFW! when the content identifies itself as adult material.

As a note: I am not sponsored by any company, group, or individual listed below or elsewhere on this site unless otherwise listed.

News!

I’m happy to announce that Paper Cat Press is an affiliate of new webcomic collective Ink Drop Café!

Ink Drop Café is a friendly comic artist collective and community that welcomes a variety of storytellers. We value unique viewpoints, especially those that champion feminine, nonbinary, and minority visions/aesthetics. All mediums, formats, and styles are welcome! We are united by our desire to create engaging stories, foster community growth, and nurture aspiring creators.

Members of Ink Drop Café collective share traffic through a banner system, and we also support one another through social channels and convention networking.

We are open to anyone joining the community via Discord or the Forums — so please do feel free to come by and chat sometime!

Helping Others

Are you a US resident wondering what to do about recent executive orders, gag orders, cabinet confirmations, and the future of your country? Sign up with 5calls.org to find out who to call about specific, pressing issues and what to say. Countable is also an informative resource. Check What the Fuck Just Happened Today? for daily summarized news on the current administration that you can have delivered to your inbox.

If you’re just getting started with protesting and doing something about your government, you can read this free zine What Now?organized and designed by Deandra “Nika” Tan. (I contributed a short comic.)

Take care and take your time. Your work is more important than ever. Thank you for sharing your originality and openness with the world. You bring light to the days of others, and it is so, so appreciated.

Crowdfunded Projects

As the Crow Flies: Volume 1 is running a Kickstarter to fund its printing and shipping. As the Crow Flies tells the story of Charlie Lamonte, the only queer black camper at her Christian summer camp for young teen girls, and how she comes to terms with the inconsistencies of the camp’s beliefs. The volume will contain 270 pages of Melanie Gillman’s Eisner-nominated webcomic, beautifully illustrated with colored pencils. Tier options include digital and physical copies of the book, a bookplate, original artwork, and a workshop visit with Melanie Gillman. The Kickstarter ends on June 14.

The Ladybroad Ledger Issue #2 is hosting a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for their semiannual newsprint publication to promote comics and comic art by femme Vermont cartoonists. Issue #2 will feature 16 pages of comics and comics art distributed freely and at cons in the New England area. Issue #1 is available for free here.

GaymerX East 2017! is running a Kickstarter to help fund its New York event in November of 2017. GaymerX has had 7 events around the United States since 2012 celebrating games and how LGBTQ+ people interact with them. Tier options include stickers, a documentary, shirts, pins, stickers, and more! The Kickstarter ends on June 16.

Anarchy Dreamers Issue 5 is running a Kickstarter to fund the printing and shipping of its fifth issue. Anarchy Dreamers tells the story of 6 young students who, after a mass shooting with no gunman wreaks havoc at their school, are “revived” and tasked with preventing further tragedy by fighting “Nightmares.” The printed comic will feature 32 pages of full-color comics as well as 4 pages of bonus content. Tier option include a physical copy of the book, physical copies of past issues, a sparkly bookmark, mini prints, larger prints, stickers, a comic cameo, and more. The Kickstarter ends on June 17.

Finding Peace is running a Kickstarter to fund its printing, shipping, and fulfillment. Finding Peace is a 14-page horror comic that follows a paranormal investigator’s call for an exorcism at a haunted apartment. The book will be 28 pages in all, with additional behind the scenes material and guest art included. Tier options include digital and physical copies of the book, prints, and custom artwork. The Kickstarter ends on June 19.

The Animated Brain: Mental Health in the Animation Industry is running a Kickstarter to fund the production of its anthology. The 30-page book features the experiences of students and professionals in animation, as well as simple recipes for bad days. Proceeds collected beyond the costs of printing, fulfillment, and artist payment will be donated to NAMI, Autistic Advocacy, the Selective Mutism Center, and 4 Paws for Ability. Tier options include digital and physical copies of the zine and original watercolor paintings. The Kickstarter ends on June 20.

NSFW!Ménage à 3 Volume 8 & more! is running a Kickstarter to fund the production and fulfillment of its eighth volume, along with the second volumes of Sandra On the Rocks and Dangerously Chloe. Ménage à 3 is a long-form web-based strip comic full of sexy romance and comedy now finishing up its eighth year. For those new to these series, all of the previous volumes of Ménage à 3, Sandra On the Rocks, and Dangerously Chloe are available through the Kickstarter! Tier options include digital and physical copies of all of the books, postcards, posters, a plush, and a pen! The Kickstarter ends on June 20.

Kay and P: Volume 4 is running a Kickstarter campaign to fund its production, shipping, and fulfillment. Kay and P is a webcomic that follows Kay and her skeleton friend P in and around Boston as they come face to face with the world of myths and monsters. Tier options include digital and physical copies of the book, previous volumes in either a digital or physical format, a zine, a digital wallpaper, sketches, a patch, a t-shirt, and a tote bag. The Kickstarter ends on June 21.

Pose References for Artists is a Kickstarter raising funds to help facilitate a collaborative stock photo project from popular stock photo creators and models Sinned-Angel-Stock and Senshi-Stock. Tier options include backer exclusive references, digital copies of all final reference shots (a estimated 200 minimum photos), a livestream photoshoot, and more. The Kickstarter ends on June 23.

Love Unspoken: An Illustrated Star-Crossed Lovers Zine is running a Kickstarter to fund its production. Love Unspoken is an art book filled with illustrations of star-crossed lovers from myth and history, featuring 24 artist contributors. Tier options include digital and physical copies of the book, stickers, tote bags, enamel pins, prints, and commissions. The Kickstarter ends on June 25.

Niobe: She Is Life Hardcover and She Is Death #1 Comic Book is running a Kickstarter to fund its production. Niobe: She Is Life is “a coming of age Beauty and the Beast love story threaded with murder and mystery that leads to all out war.” She Is Death is the sequel that describes how Niobe transforms from heartbroken teen to fierce warrior woman. Tier options include digital and physical copies of the book, signed or unsigned, digital wallpapers, prints, chokers, a backpack, original artwork, and more. The Kickstarter ends on June 25.

NSFW!Dirty Diamonds #8: Sex (an all-girls comic anthology) is running a Kickstarter to fund the publication of its 8th book, the newest volume in the Dirty Diamonds anthology comic series. Over 65 women creators have contributed to this volume with semi-autobiographical exploration of what sex means to them. Although the contents of the zine are adult in nature, there is no explicit or smutty content featured. Tier options include digital and physical copies of the book, digital copies of past Dirty Diamonds anthologies, a temporary tattoo, a bookplate, enamel pins, and more. The Kickstarter ends on June 30.

The Peter Pan Manga – Volume 3 is running a Kickstarter to fund its printing and shipping. Elaine Tipping, creator of the manga adaptation, illustrates scenes from the classic Peter Pan more faithfully than the renditions widely seen in popular culture. This third volume will collect chapters 7-10 of the webcomic series, with 134 pages of comics and additional bonus content. Tier options include digital and physical copies of the comic, digital copies of previous volumes, a tote bag, spiral notebooks, keychains, a digital illustration, a marker-colored commission, and more. The Kickstarter ends on July 3.

Creative Opportunities

General

The Comic Tea Party is a weekly “book club” for webcomics. Participate in the Discord chat weekly on Thursdays at 5pm to 7pm PST.Sign your comic up for a chance to have it read and discussed in the group!

Animation

Here is a survey for Women Professionals in Animation. If you work in animation and identify as a woman, please submit your anonymous information to this survey to inform and assist current and future animators.

You can find a directory of currently open animation jobs at animatedjobs.com! Companies like DHX Media, Disney, Nickelodeon, and others have a number of open full-time, part-time, freelance, and remote positions available, including those in social media, editing, and teaching.

Taking the Lane #15: True Trans Bike Rebel is accepting submissions of short fiction (500-2500 words), illustrations, and photography until July 1. Payment to be split among contributors after the zine is crowdfunded.

Blank Party is hosting a Chrono Party zine celebrating Chrono Trigger. Submissions of comics and illustration will be accepted until July 15. All selected contributors will receive a hard copy book, and all submissions will be featured on the website.

MediBang is accepting submissions for their Concept Comic Project until July 31. The grand prize winner will receive 300,000 yen, novelization, and a chance to be adapted into a movie on Amazon Prime Video.

Black Girls Create is looking for submissions of written, drawn, filmed, photographed, or any other expression of creative work from black creators showing what their time at Hogwarts would’ve looked like! They are also open to feature suggestions and contributors.

The Brave Some is seeking submissions of short stories, prose, essays, reviews, and visual art by black and/or brown women and femmes.

DC Comics has a number of open positions in Burbank, California, including some for Assistant Editors in middle grade and other licensed comics, a digital production artist, a creative director, and more!

Designers

I created a document where people who have skills in web design and are willing and able to assist comic creators in creating their own websites can list themselves. Feel free to add your name, examples, and prices!

Mentorships

The Representation Matters Mentorship Program is accepting applications on a rolling basis from self-identified people of color interested in the publishing industry. Mentorships will last 6 months, with a minimum of one session every two months.

Residencies, Retreats, and Workshops

Light Grey Art Lab is accepting applications to their Iceland Residency until July 15.

Typesetting

Voice Acting

Writing and Editing

Lethe Press has open submissions and is seeking submissions for A Midas Clutch: Tales of Opulent Horror for horror stories featuring the wealthy, due in January 2018. Queer speculative fiction is preferred. Stories featuring negative perspectives of LGBTQ+ individuals will be rejected.

Flaming Aces & Arrows is accepting previously unpublished submissions of asexual- and aromantic-spectrum short stories and poems written by asexual- and aromantic-spectrum people. Submissions are due by June 15.

ImageOutRight Volume 6 is seeking submissions of previously unpublished fiction, nonfiction, and poetry about the LGBTQIAP+ experience. Submissions are due by June 15.

The Setters and Aces Zine, celebrating the setters and aces from Haikyuu, is accepting applications until June 15. Artists, writers, and cosplayers are welcome to submit!

Raised By Unicorns is accepting written submissions from people with a US address who were raised by an LGBTQ+ parent or parents. Submit by June 16 to be considered.

What Fresh Witch is accepting fiction on teen witches that reflects the discomfort, growth, and rebelliousness of adolescence. Submissions are due June 16.

The Garrison Trio Zine, celebrating the friendship and camaraderie between Lance, Pidge, and Hunk from Voltron, has applications open for artists and writers until June 18.

The BNHA Quirk Zine is accepting applications from artists and writers until June 22. Proceeds from the physical book sales will be distributed evenly amongst the contributors.

Inkshares and Nerdist are hosting a contest for science fiction novels. Describe your work on Inkshares and collect preorders for your work until June 26. The top three books with the most preorders, and possibly others, will be published by Inkshares, and one or more will receive opportunities from Nerdist to develop their work into other media properties.

Taking the Lane #15: True Trans Bike Rebel is accepting submissions of short fiction (500-2500 words), illustrations, and photography until July 1. Payment to be split among contributors after the zine is crowdfunded.

Swamp Bitch Books is seeking submissions of fantasy, sci-fi, and horror fiction from LGBTQ+ writers of color for an upcoming anthology project. Submit stories of 8000 words or less by July 30 to be considered. Check submissions guidelines and payment details here.

Fiyah Lit Mag is accepting submissions of fiction and poetry from members of the African diaspora for their 4th issue, themed ROOTS, until July 31.

Argot Magazine is seeking written and illustrated submissions about queer and marginalized experiences. Click here for more on their mission as well as their pay rates.

Asymptote is accepting submissions of literary fiction, literary nonfiction, and poetry from the seven countries (Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen) directly affected by Trump’s travel ban. Contributors will be paid $200 per feature. Submissions are also being accepted on a rolling basis for other contributors and submission styles.

The Awl is accepting pitches of 1500-2000 word articles. Ideas should be informative, investigative, and exciting.

Black Girls Create is looking for submissions of written, drawn, filmed, photographed, or any other expression of creative work from black creators showing what their time at Hogwarts would’ve looked like! They are also open to feature suggestions and contributors.

The Brave Some is seeking submissions of short stories, prose, essays, reviews, and visual art by creators who identify as black and/or brown women and femmes.

Online monthly magazine The Dark is accepting submissions from 2000 to 6000 words in length. Encouraged genres include horror and dark fantasy, but graphic, violent horror is not desired. Payment is $0.03/word for up to 6000 words. Republishing payment is $0.01/word.

DC Comics has a number of open positions in Burbank, California, including some for Assistant Editors in middle grade and other licensed comics, a digital production artist, a creative director, and more!

Hello Giggles is accepting pitches for stories about mother-daughter relationships.

Random House’s digital-only imprint Hydra has open submissions for completed works in the science fiction, fantasy, and horror categories. There is no word count limit for submissions, but full-length works of 40,000 words or more are preferred. Accepted writers will be assigned to a Random House editor, marketer, and publicist. Response time is usually 2-4 weeks.

On She Goes is seeking pitches and ideas about women of color and traveling. Tips, insight, and anecdotes are welcome.

Pink Narcissus Press is seeking complete novel and novella manuscripts of 50,000 words or more. They are interested in well-written but non-mainstream speculative fiction with strong elements of sci-fi or fantasy.

pnk prl is accepting submissions of blackout/erasure poetry from LGBTQ+ writers until further notice. Please source the origin of the original source.

The Quillis accepting submissions of stories, poetry, and creative nonfiction. Check here for their submission guidelines and pay scale.

Sapphire Books is accepting submissions of lesbian fiction, particularly within the genres of romance, mystery/intrigue with romantic elements, and young adult.

Youth

Check out Comics Club, a new blog that highlights and connects comics clubs and shares advice and resources to help youth comic creators. Comics Club is currently hoping to hear from teachers and other educators, existing comics clubs, or members of the community with insight to offer or events to share.

I created a document where people who have skills in web design and are willing and able to assist comic creators in creating their own websites can list themselves. Feel free to add your name, examples, and prices!

That’s it for this week! Look out for another post next week with these categories and possibly more. Is there something you’d like to see more of? Something you know about but don’t see here? Let me know!

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